February 24, 2012

The weekend is upon us. Woot! I have a girlfriend's bridal shower to attend and I get to be with Ben (and the girls) the rest of the time.

I have been really tired of late that I haven't even been exercising, which is something I do in the morning. It is strange. It is going on three weeks now that I have been having terrible sleep. I will wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall back asleep or relax. I don't know what it is. I finally fall asleep when Ben's alarm goes off and then I wake up an hour later when he has to leave. It is quite frustrating. I have always been a heavy sleeper and never had any problems with sleep until now. I used to describe my heavy sleeping saying "I melted into the bed." Now, I just won't melt.

I am thinking of trying some sort of relaxing tea, but I am not sure which one. Anyone have any tips? These sleepless nights are driving me mad.

This week's learned and links...

- Family meal planning has been so great. I am appreciating it more and more and it has really changed the dynamics of our dinners and even our daily lunch.

- Soul must always get dressed first thing in the morning. She insists on taking off her pajamas and wearing a shirt and a skirt. Sometimes 2 skirts!

- Still obsessed with Madewell. I am holding a sign that says, "Will work for these shoes."

- Wish I went to school for graphic design so I can have skills like this lady.

- Love hearing your thoughts on this post. I would also like to hear from those who are more spontaneous or do "attachment" parenting. It is good to learn from everyone! My way isn't the only way to parent, we all have different styles and we just do what is best for us and our children.

- This idea of my sister's is so genius. Happy jar... a good way to count your blessings and name them one by one!

It seems there is a whole lot of truth serum going out in the blog world these days. I have always been a fan of sharing the not sopretty partsof my life and I love knowing the real life stuff behind another blog too. Makes people seem more real and relatable. I think blogging can sometimes be alienating thinking certain blogs have got it made in their lives and that is probably further from the truth.

One day you may be reading how much we loved baking and crafting up a storm, but the next day I am probably more likely to have a mommy meltdown because let's face it, I have meltdowns all the time because being a mommy is hard. Sometimes during my sleepless nights, I even think about how awful I might have been that day, how I wish I got more done or how I wish I could redo the day all over again. All this to say, if you have bad days, I have them too. If you have got bills to pay, well, I do too! If you yell or get frustrated, I do too! If you are wondering, how you can get your kids to be more well-behaved. I am too! No one has life quite figured out and I am here just trying to trust and love God as I go through it and learn from it. Makes me more thankful for Christ's redeeming work on the cross.

you are awesome for making that point again and again, it is so true that blogs tend to show the best side of things and it can make readers feel bad about themselves. that said, you are definitely a supermom for handling four, homeschooling, and having tons of fun with the kids and your hub! thank you for sharing all of it!

YES, there's an app for that hahahaha. BUT it's true. It's a sleep hypnosis app and it's recommended that you do it for 21 days straight and I've been using it and I find myself falling asleep just when they start counting... and it helps you relax. It's called sleep soundly and it's FREE.

I have been having serious issues sleeping, and as a college senior, that's just not okay. I take melatonin every night, 6 mg if I'm going to bed on time and 3 if it's a late night. It is all natural and doesn't leave me groggy at all! My mom even gave it to us when we were young. Not as young as your sweeties, but still young. :) Hope you get better rest soon! Anna

Lavender essential oil is wonderful and versatile, I love it. Just make sure it is of the highest grade (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. Anything less and you are wasting your money, I can explain more but would take to long, but let me know if you want more info about it). Anyway, you can apply topically (1-2 drops to the spine, bottom of feet, or back of neck), add 2 drops to warm bathwater before you go to bed, put a drop under your pillow, dilute in water in a spray bottle and mist into the air or on sheets....so many different ways to use it. And Lavender is good for so many other things too. This is what I use, I hope the link works.

I second the melatonin suggestion. My mom just had hip surgery and is now pain-free from the horrendous pain she had been in for months and months prior to the surgery. The only problem was that her body had become so used to the pain meds she would take to help her sleep at night that after the surgery when she no longer needed the meds, she couldn't sleep. She was very fearful of becoming addicted to the pain meds and just "toughed it out". She started melatonin and it has helped tremendously. Hope something works for you--mommying is hard work--we need all of the sleep we can get! : )

I loved your last paragraph. We are all broken and in need of Jesus. I too am thankful for Christ's redeeming work for me!

Melatonin is great--but if you are nursing I would check with your doctor before using this because I believe it wouldn't be recommended.

I had the same sleep issues after I had my son (still do sometimes) and mostly I think it is because I now know how valuable my sleep really is! I also think it could be hormones sometimes...it seems worse right before I'm about to get that monthly visitor (sorry if that was TMI!).

Looove that you share the good and the not-so-good in your life. I think a lot of young women don't realize that it's okay to be tired, and not have THE perfect life, and still be happy and fulfilled. It's the expectations that let us down in the end, and by you (and other women with an audience) being honest, it helps me to accept every part of my crazy, fun, imperfect life.

I promise promise promise that camomile tea will put you to sleep. The trick is that you HAVE to cover it while it steeps. If you don't, all the sleepy-time goodness escapes from the tea and you are drinking nothing more than flavored water. This is true for all tea. Steep camomile and you will fall fast asleep. I use it all the time!

Is that you have trouble falling back to sleep after you've woken up? Does your mind start racing? Sounds a little like anxiety to me, but I'm easily way off base. When I go through times like what you're describing I try to relax my mind and thoughts by praying...often for others, though sometimes for myself. It always brings peace to my mind and heart and sleep returns.

Camomile tea with honey stirred in! Mine has 'a moment of calm' written on the packet and I love saying "I'm going to have my moment of calm now"...such a dork. But really, it's great tea and so relaxing. Warm milk with honey is good too.

I went the same road...went very far... (very stressed, very nervous) tried teas, homeopathy, relaxing spas...the only thing that really worked (like really solved the problem) was exercising again... Down this road I gained 8kg that I have no idea how to loose, as I set really healthy...Please continue to exercise!!!!

Gorgeous flowers! Your tiredness but insomnia might be worth a quick trip to the doc for a blood test? I found insomnia to be a symptom of low vitamin D - I was deficient during my last pregnancy (my Willow's a week younger than your Glow) and discovered I had quite a few friends who had the same issue too! With your body having nurtured Glow and continuing to do so, plus all your busyness - maybe you'll find out you need more iron or vitamin D or something. But then if that's all okay - I find white noise helps - I have an app on my phone that plays running water or waves, etc.

sleepy time tea has always worked really well for me. But i would REALLY recommend Calm! It is a powdered magnesium. It is a natural muscle relaxer, but it doesn't make me feel sedated and I never wake up groggy in the morning. Whenever I can't sleep I drink a small cup and it always works.

Hey rubyellen! I'm only 15 but about two years ago i had a big problem about sleeping and it involved panic disorder and many other things, than became my greatest testimony with God's help :) I know that you are not going through the same situation, but I just want to say that I didn't need tea or pills, I just learned how to trust completely in God and how to rest in Him. Read Psalm 4:8 "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety" now I can say that I sleep like a rock (I don't know if you use that expression, we use here in Brazil)God bless you! :D

Melatonin all the way! It is natural, cheap and you can get it anywhere! It is pretty powerful so I only take one little tablet that dissolves about 20 minutes before I want to fall asleep! I was also waking up randomly at night usually right at 3am wide awake and stuggled to fall back asleep...melatonin really helped!

Hi Ruby! I have sleep problems a lot. Here's my insight: White nose is the number 1 help--find a cheap noise machine on amazon, or use a fan. It might seem weird at first, but you will get used to it. Melatonin can make you feel more tired, but it doesn't turn my mind off. I would, however, recommend over a sleep pill (those make me feel awful), but I do not think it is something you should use every night. I love what the girl from Brazil said--I truely think that is the key and I hope I get there and you do to through God's help!

hi erica! yes, i do have white noise, but that doesn't seem to work. i will definitely look into some of the suggestions here for sure! and yes, i totally agree asking God to help me with it is the answer.

I don't always get to read all of your posts but I'm so glad I read this one! I've been feeling like I have a defect or something because as hard as I try to do everything, it seems like in comparison to others I always fall short. Maybe this should be my focus for Lent this year-- God's grace. No one is perfect! I have to remember that. And the other thing is that for the past week or so, I've been having nightmares and waking up in the middle of the night... no idea why! I'm like you-- I used to be a heavy sleeper and now it seems like I can't get a full night. I am looking into it homeopathically because I know there's something I'm missing: balance in something mentally, physically or emotionally. And yes... probably it's not enough exercise! ;) Good luck... sending a hug! xo

I go through those weird no-sleep phases too. Drives me insane. The only solution for me has been to read my Bible (Psalms especially) right before I fall asleep. If I do end up waking in the middle of the night, I just pray. I wonder if the Lord wakes me up when all is quite to spend some extra moments with Him.Hope you find something to help!

Just found your blog and thought I'd share what I discovered last winter that helped me to fall asleep in three seconds flat! (Well, maybe not that fast, but it was pretty quick!) I can't sleep when I'm cold, so I started warming up a wheatie bag in the microwave and I'd put it on my toes. Voila! Asleep in no time! Hope you find something that works soon!

sour cherry juice is the business. I am a chronic insomniac and sour cherry is the maker of my sleep. It is kind of expensive (I wouldn't bother with the cheaper kind) but if you treasure a good nights melt it is very much worth it.